Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology is concerned with disorders associated with digestive system. It focuses on treating diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract, including organs form mouth to anus, along the alimentary canal. Physicians expert in gastroenterology field are known as gastroenterologists.

Diseases and disorders
• Anal fissure, fistula and abscess – These three diseases develop in anus and anal canal. Anal fissure is a small tear in the lining of the anus. Anal fistula is an infected channel, which cause discharge. Anal abscess is accumulation of pus in the underlying tissue around anus and the anal canal.
• Constipation – It is characterized by frequent hard stools or difficulty in evacuating stool.
• Diarrhoea – Patient suffering from diarrhoea has frequent watery stools throughout the day and even in night.
• Gas – Certain diet choices cause gas and symptoms like frequent belching of air from stomach, frequent passing of gas from rectum and bloating of the abdomen after having food occurs.
• Gastritis – It is an inflammation of stomach, caused when white blood cells move into the wall of the stomach due to some type of injury.
• Gastro paresis – It a problem of stomach caused when the rate of the electrical wave that contracts the stomach slows down.
• GERD – Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a condition in which the contents (food or liquid) of stomach leak backwards from stomach into esophagus.
• Helicobacter pylori – It is bacteria, attached to the underlying stomach cells and causes infection.
• Hemorrhoids – They are the dilated veins, which occur in and around the anus and rectum.
• Hiatal hernia - It is a medical condition, in which portion of the stomach herniates or moves up into the chest cavity through the enlarged hiatus (hole in the diaphragm).
• Irritable bowel syndrome – An abnormal contraction of colon results in changing bowel patterns and abdominal pain.
• Lactose intolerance – The problem develops when the body has difficulty in digesting dairy products.
• Pancreatic disease – The problem is caused due to acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and other tumours.
• Peptic ulcer disease – It is a medical condition in which sores or ulcers develop in the stomach or duodenum.
• Rectal bleeding – Patient suffering from rectal bleeding have bleeding during bowel movements, which can be due to colon or rectal cancer.
• Ulcerative colitis – It is a recurring inflammatory condition of the large bowel or colon, in which ulcers or sores are formed in the lining of colon.
 
Tests, treatment, drugs and diagnose
Several tests are performed by the physician, to diagnose the cause of problem in digestive system and accordingly the medication or surgery is recommended to the patient.

When to call gastroenterologist?
Seek the medical advice from gastroenterologist if you are suffering from any kind of problem related to digestive system.